Summer transfer rumours, speculation and out-and-out b*ll*cks.

[Redman]

I can't see Birmingham selling any players to Villa as long as they're pursuing a tapping-up case.

[MoetVillan]

I can.  Money talks, and they need it

[unclefabio]

Dann is the only Birmingham player I'd like and they'd want crazy money for him. Especially with Liverpool apparently being interested in him.

[Mazrim]

Dann and Foster would do nicely. Nobody else from them.
And they'll sell to the highest bidder, even if it's us.

[Caiphus]

We'll definitely need a couple of exciting attacking players to replace Young and probably Downing and to generate some form of excitement and optimism.

Would be great if we could get the likes of Sturridge, N'Zogbia, Dszudszak. But I fear that the air around the club will put people off. Wouldn't be dead set against Barton personally. Personality aside, exactly the sort of player and character we need.

Not feeling too positive about our youngsters at the moment. They didn't set the championship alight (or even start in some cases) and aren't playing in what looks a decidedly average england under 21 side.

So ideally? At the absolute uppermost end of realistic, and assuming Young and Downing both go, I reckon something like:

Sturridge £15m
N'Zogbia £12m
Barton £5m
Walker £7m
Foster £8m
Enrique £8m
Dann / Johnson: £8m
Larsson: free
Westwood: free
Total spend: £63m

Outs:

Downing: £18m
Young: £16m
Warnock: £3m
Cuellar £3m

Total: £40m

Net spend: £23m

Would be astonished and extremely surprised to see anything on that scale, but I reckon it'd leave us with a good squad and first team:

Foster - Walker, Johnson, Dunne, Enrique - Barton, Petrov, Delph - Sturridge, Bent, N'Zogbia

Subs: Westwood, Clark, Young, Makoun, Albrighton, Larsson, Agbonlahor

Collins, Bannan, Fonz, Weimann as back ups.

rule out dszudszak, he's gone to russia.

[ozzjim]

Dann and Foster would do nicely. Nobody else from them.
And they'll sell to the highest bidder, even if it's us.

He needs to be backed. I would go get those 2 straight away. If we could add Sturridge it would be amazing, although another loan may be more becoming for him. If Hughes gets the job there then he could be out on his ear. N'Zogbia and Diame from Wigan are still worth a look.

He likes a player who can dictate the play in the centre, Ferguson is too old now, but I think he will be after someone of that ilk. Signing fucking Barton would finish me off this summer though. I want young is (under 26) year old players who we know will have a sell on value though.

And I really would not be shocked to see him try and keep Reo Coker

[ozzjim]

He liked Cahill a lot too once.

[UsualSuspect]

Sturridge??

Do people live on the moon?

[UsualSuspect]

Plus do you honestly think that the ginger bloke is going to be given 10 million to spend on Foster, 15 on dann at least 15 on Sturridge

40 million my arse

[Mazrim]

I dont know where you're getting your figures from mate but I think they're some way off.

In any case we'll be bringing quite a few pennies in when we sell players this summer.
There will be a lot to spend I think. I had hoped a top manager would be here to spend it but alas, no.

[UsualSuspect]

Ben Foster was signed for 6 million and would go for at least 10 million

Blues quoted wolves 15 million for Dann last week so to us he would be 20 million

Perhaps you could tell me how much you think Sturridge would go for?

[Mazrim]

Ben Foster was signed for 6 million and would go for at least 10 million

Blues quoted wolves 15 million for Dann last week so to us he would be 20 million

Perhaps you could tell me how much you think Sturridge would go for?

I dont care what Blose quoted, they wouldn't go for that much. Nobody would pay it and they need to sell so...
At a guess I'd say £15m for Foster and Dann. With a few add on incentives perhaps.

Sturridge could realistically go for £15m plus. I'm not arguing that one though. Plus, I'd pay it. He's class.
We dropped a massive bollock letting him go to start with. He was always touted for big things.

[UsualSuspect]

15 million for Dann & Foster 

Plus why on earth would Sturridge want to leave Chelsea and come to Villa

[Mazrim]

15 million for Dann & Foster 

Plus why on earth would Sturridge want to leave Chelsea and come to Villa

Yes, £15m (plus add ons) for Foster and Dann. It's hardly small change is it? How many clubs do you think will have money to burn this summer and be interested in Foster and Dann? They're not world class players.

Sturridge probably wouldnt want to leave Chelsea. I never said he would. But he should be a target nevertheless.
You never know. Maybe he wants to play and not get a few sub appearances here and there. Maybe we could get him on loan rather than Bolton and then see if he likes it here (again).

[ozzjim]

I would leave their players well alone maz. I think he would get dunne collins cuellar and Clark working as a unit buy a right back and play luke left.  In truth get what we have functioning and they are as good as dann and Johnson.